NATIONALISM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 248, 29 October 1892, Page 2

NATIONALISM.

[Amerioau Journal of Politics.]

Prior to tho publication of "Looking Baokward " there existed ia this country no organisod body advooating the reform9 which Mr Bellamy advooated in his book. Political economists and social reformers generally had up to that timo discussed the control of obtain branohea of business by tho municipalities and by the National Government, but fchero was no olnsa of mea nor any society haviug a platform of principles corresponding to the present National' ist party. A largo part of Mr Bellamy's theories wore not only old, but they were tested nnd , applied long before Jio thought of writing the book. The Municipal ownership of waterworks had been a common thing in tho United States for twenty-live years, and tho national as well as municipal control of certain business in Europe, such as the railroads, telegraphs, gas and water works, had been in vogue a longer period. Mr Bellamy took these ideas of European origin and with many additions of Ins own constructed ft scheme for the revision of the industrial system, the application of which, in the United States, is sought by the Nationalist party. Mr Bellamy's idea in writing " Looking Backward " was meiely the production of a literary fairy tale picturing society in an ideal state. In spuming out the tale ho stumbled upon what he has called tho "destined corner-stone of the new social order," and departing from the original intention the book was published with tho author's hope that it might inlluenco ouv social and industrial systems. The result which the book ;has brought about is in tho main a more general interest in social conditions. Heal Nationalism and its propositions are more generally mis. understood than anything elao. An English man of business onoo romukod, " Whoro combination is possible, oompatitiou is impossible," nnd it is inline with tin's assert tiou that tho Nationalists havo constructed a code of theories for industrial aud aooial reform. Nationalism 13 tho result of aooial evolution, It is a movement in whioh pali« tic.al, economies, and othioil influences aro to work iu harmony with eaoh other. The principle of ojmpatitiou and the law of tho survival of the fntes aro held to bo identical. It is one perfoot publio organisation for tho administration of government and industry, wherein the individual is n nioro uotuiug exoapt ns ho may form a part of tho whole, and to whoso iutero3ts will aoorue tho bouelifc of concentrated action, the result boing thit whatever contribute:) to tho general good is also of boucflt) t) t'io individual. Tuo interests of individuals will be fosteroJ and promoted in tho saino degrea that the intareati of all aio fostered and promoted. Nationalism aims, therefore, to benefit 1 the individual by fcho direct performance of those services which under present) con. ditions would, theoretically at least, mean the control and operation of all industrial by means of unitccf public action. It would seem at lirst glance that Nationalism is but another form of Socialism, bo it German, English, French, or American, there is one achievement, one end, which all Socialists arc striving to bring about; namely, the absolute reconstruction of •society. Any reform calculated in any way to delay this period cf social ciausformUiou ia oppjsou by tho Socialist. Tho differeuoo, thorefore, between Nationalism and Socialism, is thnt Socialism is sought by tho universal nplicavol of exist* ing conditions ; Nationalism is sought by moana which avo entirely rational aud peaceful. It is bolicved that oaco tlu reform is begun, tho assumption of iuduitrits by the State will gradua ly ousue until the oombined industries of tho Nation will bo under tho control of National authority,